Christopher Joyce and William Egan are back in the Cork defence for their Division 1A Allianz Hurling League opener against Galway at Pearse Stadium.

Joyce is returning from a cruciate ligament injury, having missed the majority of last year, and is named at full-back.

Egan returns after a year-long absence from the Rebels set-up in Kieran Kingston’s first competitive selection as Cork manager.

Cork’s year was ended last summer in a 2-28 to 0-22 defeat to Galway, with the Rebels retaining 10 of the team from that game for Sunday’s rematch.

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Like Kingston, Galway’s Micheal Donoghue has also named his first team as manager, featuring eight of last year’s All-Ireland final starters.

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@Galway_GAA hurling team named. @Allianz National hurling league vs @OfficialCorkGAA Pearse Stadium, Sunday at 2pm. pic.twitter.com/Up08XqMSxn

— Tribesmen GAA (@TribesmenGAA) February 12, 2016

The Cork team to play Galway next Sunday is as follows:

Anthony Nash (Kanturk);

Shane O'Neill (Bishopstown), Christopher Joyce (Na Piarsaigh), Stephen McDonnell (Capt, Glen Rovers);

Aidan Walsh (Kanturk), William Egan (Kilbrin), Damian Cahalane (St Finbarrs);

Cormac Murphy (Mallow), Lorcan McLoughlin (Kanturk);

Bill Cooper (Youghal), Paudie O'Sullivan (Cloyne), Patrick Cronin (Bishopstown);

Alan Cadogan (Douglas), Seamus Harnedy (St Ita's), Patrick Horgan (Glen Rovers).

Subs:

Patrick Collins (Ballinhaassig), Stephen Murphy (Blackrock), Daniel Kearney (Sarsfields), Brian Lawton (Castlemartyr), Cian Mccarthy (Sarsfields), Cathal Cormack (Blackrock), Stephen Moylan (Douglas), Luke O'Farrell (Midleton), Conor Lehane (Midleton), William Leahy (Aghada), Paul Haughney (Midleton).